In this video during the time stamp 00:48 to 00:60 an icon of St.Mary, the Theotokos whipping boy Jesus is depicted, with the caption Mary whipping boy Jesus for being bad. Is this really a real Ethiopian icon ?

While it is very natural to imagine a mother might have whipped her son to discipline him; wasn't Jesus sinless so what would have caused St.Mary to whip boy Jesus ? Is there anything from the holy tradition in the Ethiopian church that explains this icon ?

In this video during the time stamp 00:48 to 00:60 an icon of St.Mary, the Theotokos whipping boy Jesus is depicted, with the caption Mary whipping boy Jesus for being bad. Is this really a real Ethiopian icon ?

While it is very natural to imagine a mother might have whipped her son to discipline him; wasn't Jesus sinless so what would have caused St.Mary to whip boy Jesus ? Is there anything from the holy tradition in the Ethiopian church that explains this icon ?

In Christ,Mathew G m

The Icon in the video is not a whipping scene as the caption claimed. The icon is also not of Ethiopian tradition in that it does not adequate speak the truth of the Gosple. I have never seen this Icon before.

Various other Icons shown in the clip are also not Ethiopian Icons or 'orthodox' at all. Some were only copies of pictures brought by western missionaries in Ethiopia. There is an effort in Ethiopia to rid the churches of second and third hand copies of the picturesque "christ" and "virgin mary" images dumped into Ethiopia by western missions and repalce them with true Holy Orthodox Icons which will correctly dispaly the true Gosple teaching and Ethiopian tradition. Ethiopians only used these non-orthodox 2nd and 3rd hand "pictures" since it is hard to get a full Icon made when money is very minimal and means to at lease copy the the real Icons and use them is also difficult do the remoteness of many churches and lack of resources in general.

The Icon in the video is not a whipping scene as the caption claimed. The icon is also not of Ethiopian tradition in that it does not adequate speak the truth of the Gosple. I have never seen this Icon before.

Various other Icons shown in the clip are also not Ethiopian Icons or 'orthodox' at all. Some were only copies of pictures brought by western missionaries in Ethiopia. There is an effort in Ethiopia to rid the churches of second and third hand copies of the picturesque "christ" and "virgin mary" images dumped into Ethiopia by western missions and repalce them with true Holy Orthodox Icons which will correctly dispaly the true Gosple teaching and Ethiopian tradition. Ethiopians only used these non-orthodox 2nd and 3rd hand "pictures" since it is hard to get a full Icon made when money is very minimal and means to at lease copy the the real Icons and use them is also difficult do the remoteness of many churches and lack of resources in general.

God bless Ethiopia!

And God bless you, Amdetsion, for helping us all to better understand Ethiopian Orthodoxy.

I vaguely recall reading an old Protestant polemic against the RC Church which made a point of the existence of an icon depicting the same scene in some RC Cathedral in Italy.

Maybe this icon represents the influence of RC missionaries in Ethiopia? Or maybe it is simply not an icon created or held by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church at all? As far as I know, the RC, and even the Baptist Church in Ethiopia do their best to replicate the Ethiopian Orthodox's traditions. I recall reading how the Baptists there have begun adopting traditional Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical vestments as a means to more effectively proselytise laity. So, whilst on its surface this may look like a traditional Ethiopian Orthodox icon it could quite possibly be an RC icon.

Btw, I realise that the author of the youtube video introduced his video with the title, "Paintings on the Ethiopian church's walls", but i'm not sure how to take that really given that the very first image presented is neither a painting nor something to be found on a wall.

« Last Edit: May 20, 2008, 07:06:45 PM by EkhristosAnesti »

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No longer an active member of this forum. Sincerest apologies to anyone who has taken offence to anything posted in youthful ignorance or negligence prior to my leaving this forum - October, 2012.

"Philosophy is the imitation by a man of what is better, according to what is possible" - St Severus

Yeah I dont think the author knew much about the EOTC, but was trying to share his pictures of visiting Ethiopia... which would expalin his lack of Ethiopian Music, and I might add that it shuld probably be the Ethiopian Church Music and not any Ethiopian Music... and I am equally amazed at the Virgin Mary's breastfeeding Christ Yesus as being pictured holding a cord... I thikn it was an assumption on the authors part, and maybe on the artists part as well. OUr Meriegita has pointed out innacuracies depicted in icons, as far as tradition goes...

SElam, AMde

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For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing assunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.- HEB 4v12

As far as I know, the RC, and even the Baptist Church in Ethiopia do their best to replicate the Ethiopian Orthodox's traditions. I recall reading how the Baptists there have begun adopting traditional Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical vestments as a means to more effectively proselytize laity.

. So, whilst on its surface this may look like a traditional Ethiopian Orthodox icon it could quite possibly be an RC icon.

I sincerely doubt it since it looks nothing like traditional RC art/iconography.

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There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials. - Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Btw, I realise that the author of the youtube video introduced his video with the title, "Paintings on the Ethiopian church's walls", but i'm not sure how to take that really given that the very first image presented is neither a painting nor something to be found on a wall.

LOL! Its been years since I've seen this video, and I never really noticed that fact until now. Yeah, to start your "paintings on walls" slide-show with a photo of an open book laying on a horizontal surface isn't exactly the most intelligent thing to do.

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"Disputes merely about words must not be suffered to divide those who think alike."-St. Athanasius (†444)

I assume you are not aware of the repeated attempts of Jesuits to infiltrate the Ethiopian Orthodox Faith since the 1500s.

That is inconclusive unless you have proof that they are/were writing icons in the Ethiopian Orthodox style? I would assume they would have used their typical latin style Icons or statues. They would have latinized their icons/art. The Melkite Church is one good example of being latinized in the past. Here's a picture of a Melkite Church in the USA from the turn of the past century.Notice the heavy latinizations, although all this has been rectified, Thank God!

« Last Edit: May 19, 2009, 11:32:54 PM by ChristusDominus »

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There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials. - Saint Aloysius Gonzaga